Self-sharpening chipper



Aug. 16, 1966 o. P. GANTT SELF-SHARPENING CHIPPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1964 Fig.

INVENTOR.

BY Ammqs Oliver F! Ganff Aug. 16, 1966 o. P. GANTT SELF-SHARPENING CHIPPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1964 Oliver R Ganh INVENTOK 6, 1966 o. P. GANTT SELF-SHARPENING CHIPPER Filed March 18, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 6

Fig. 5

Oliver P. Ganff INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,266,539 SELF-SHARPENING CHIPPER Oliver P. Gautt, 413 N. Forest Hill Drive, Brewton, Ala. Filed Mar. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 352,774 16 Claims. (Cl. 144-176) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wood chipping machines.

The present invention relates to machines of the type which chip, cut or disintegrate wood into small pieces or chips of the proper kind and size for preparing wood pulp in connection with the manufacture of paper or the like. The improvements of the present invention therefore are useful in connection with paper mill operations in that they are responsible for a considerable savings in time, labor and cost for wood cutting blades.

One important object of the present invention there fore, is to provide an improved wood chipping machine in which the useful life of the wood cutting blades may be extended considerably and cost thereof reduced.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved wood cutting machine of the selfsharpening type, wherein the cutting blades may be sharpened or touched up without removal or disassembly from the'machine avoiding loss in operational time for the machine incident thereto.

A still further object of the present invention in accordance with the foregoing object, is to provide a wood chipping machine in which the cutting blades may be adjusted in a facilitated manner for different cutting requirements.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the wood chipping machine of the present invention involves a planetary drive arrangement for the rotatable wood cutting blades whereby the speed of the blade assemblies is considerably increased above the speed of the flywheel on which they are rotatably mounted so that the blade assemblies may be arranged for self-sharpening operation and for effective sharpening thereof by a selectively actuated sharpening stone or abrasive element without stopping or slowing down of the machine operation. These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer .to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the improved wood chipping machine of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the machine illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 33 in FIG- URE 1. l FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIG- URE l. I V

' FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 66 in FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 77 in FIGURE 2. FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a rotatable blade element utilized in the machine of the present invention. FIGURE 9 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 99 in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and initially to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be observed that the wood chipping machine generally referred to by reference numeral 10 involves a main drive shaft 12 supported for rotation in a suitable manner about a fixed horizontal axis and driven by a prime mover (not shown) at the proper speed for rotation of a flywheel 14 connected thereto. The flywheel may therefore be enclosed within a hood 16 so as to downwardly direct small wood pieces or chips cut from the end of a log 18 received within a log chute 20 which may be fixedly mounted by the hood I16 and extend upwardly therefrom at an angle to the rotational plane of the flywheel 14. The flywheel therefore rotatably mounts a plurality of cutter blade assemblies 22 equally spaced about the drive shaft 12 so as to successively cut the end of the log 18 exposed through the outlet of the log chute in alinement with the blade assemblies carried past the log chute by the flywheel 14 when rotated. Rotation is imparted to each of the blade assemblies, seven being shown in the illustrated embodiment, at a speed increased above that of the rotational speed of the flywheel by means of a planetary drive arrangement generally referred to by reference numeral 24. The blade assemblies are therefore rotated about their own axes as they revolve about the axis of the drive shaft 12 in the opposite rotational direction at a speed ratio of 10:1 for example.

Referring now to FIGURES 5, 6 and 8, it will be observed that each of the blade assemblies 22 is connected to the end of an elongated spindle 26 rotatably mounted by a bearing assembly 28 in the flywheel about an axis disposed at a slight angle to the axis of the drive shaft 1 2 to which the flywheel is connected for rotation. Accordingly, each blade assembly 2 2 is rotated in a cutting plane which is approximately 15" to the rotational plane of the flywheel operative to effectively cut chips of wood 30 from the end of the log 18 exposed through the outlet 32 of the log chute 20 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 5. The blade assembly includes a blade holder 34 secured to the end'of the spindle 26 by the pin 36 and disposed within a circular recess 38 formed on one side of the flywheel facing the log chute 20. A semi-circular exhaust port 40 is also formed in the flywheel communieating with the circular recess 38 so as to conduct wood chips 30 rearwardly from the recess 38. The blade holder 34 is provided with fastener elements 42 by means of which the annular blade 44 is clamped to the blade holder by the disc 46 secured to the holder by the fasteners 42. The blade 44 is therefore formed from a conical section having an annular forward cutting surface 48 disposed in the rotatable cutting plane of the blade assembly.

As the flywheel 14 is rotated by the drive shaft 12, rotation in the opposite direction is imparted to the blade assemblies in response to such rotation of the flywheel by means of the planetary drive arrangement 24. Referring therefore to FIGURES 1, 3, 4 and 9, it will be observed that the spindles 26 which extend rearwardly from the blade assemblies, are respectively journaled in a plurality of journal assemblies 50 fixedly mounted in equal spaced relation on an annular frame assembly 52. The frame assembly is mounted on the drive shaft 12 for rotation therewith, and includes an outer rim portion 54 of an equilateral configuration on which the journal assemblies 50 are mounted. The outer rim portion 54 is supported by a web portion 56 mounted for axial adjustment on the drive shaft 12 by the elongated key element 58. By axially adjusting'the position of the frame assembly 52 on the drive shaft, the projection of the blade assemblies 22 from the flywheel may be An adjusting device generally referred to by reference plurality of externally threaded adjustment screw members 70 extend through threaded apertures 72 in the web portion 56 of the frame assembly 52 and through alined openings in the annular member 62. The frame assembly 52 may therefore be axially adjusted along the drive shaft by rotational adjustment of the screw members 70 which may be locked in adjusted position by the locknuts 74.

Connected to each of the spindles 26 between the journal assemblies 50 and the flywheel 14, are planet pulley wheels 76 externally grooved to receive V-bel'ts 78. The V-belts 78 therefore form an endless flexible track fixedly anchored under tension by means of the anchor member 80 secured by the fastener 82 to a fixed frame element 84. It will therefore be apparent, that as the drive shaft 12 rotates the blade assemblies about the axis of the drive shaft, the planet wheels 76 connected to the blade assemblies by the spindles 26, will travel in an orbital path established by the flexible friction belts 78 causing the spindles and the blade assemblies connected thereto to rotate about their own axes at an increased drive ratio which would be approximately equal to the ratio of the radial distance from. the axis of the drive shaft to the point of engagement with the belt 78 and the radial distance from the axis of the spindle 26 to said point of engagement. By use of a flexible friction belt for establishing the orbital track for the planet wheels 76, rupture of the parts will be avoided should overload occur by virtue of the slippage between the planet wheels and the belts 78. It will therefore be apparent, that the blade assemblies will be rotated at the proper linear speed where they engage and cut the end of the log presented thereto through the log chute 20.

Should re-grinding or sharpening of the blades 44 become necessary, such sharpening thereof may be accomplished without stopping or slowing down operation of the machine by use of a normally inactive sharpening mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 86 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 7. The sharpening mechanism includes a manually actuated lever element 88 which may be provided with a handle portion 90 and pivotally mounted by the pivot bracket 92 adjacent to the forward side of the flywheel 14. Pivotally connected to the end of the lever element 88, is a holder 94 for an abrasive sharpening stone 96 arranged to be held in a retracted position as illustrated by dotted line in FIGURE 7 so that when desired, it may be displaced by the lever element into the orbital path of the blades 44 of the blade assemblies. Accordingly, as the blade assemblies are rotated abouttheir own axes and the axis of the drive shaft 12, they will be engaged by the sharpening stone 96 so as to effectively sharpen the surface 48 on the blades. The sharpening stone 96 is therefore brought into contact with the rotating blades in offset relation to the rotational axes of the blade assemblies as shown by solid line, for example, in FIGURE 7.

From he foregoing description, the construction, operation and utility of the improved wood chipping machine will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that a significant savings may be eflected in the cost of the blades because of the extended life thereof and the ability of the machine to sharpen the blades whenever needed. Furthermore, inasmuch as sharpening of the blades may be effected without stopping operation of the machine, a considerable savings in time and labor will also be effected.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a wood chipping machine having a flywheel rotatably mounting a plurality of blades projecting from the flywheel to define cutting planes disposed at an angle to the rotational plane of the flywheel, selectively actuated sharpening means displaceable toward the flywheel for engagement with the blades projecting therefrom, and means responsive to rotation of the flywheel in one direction for imparting rotation to the blades in the opposite direction at an increased speed.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means for axially adjusting the projection of the blades from the flywheel.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said rotation responsive means comprises, planet wheel members connected to said blades for rotation therewith, flexible belt means frictionally engageable with said planet wheel members, and anchoring means connected to said belt means for fixedly holding the belt means under tension to establish an orbital path for the planet wheel members and the blades connected thereto.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said sharpening means comprises, a control lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the rotational plane of the flywheels, a holder pivotally connected to the control lever, and an abrasive element mounted in said holder for displacement into the orbital path of the blades.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rotation responsive means comprises, planet wheel members connected to said blades for rotation therewith, flexible belt means frictionally engageable with said planet Wheel members, and anchoring means connected to said belt means for fixedly holding the belt means under tension to establish an orbital path for the planet wheel members and the blades connected thereto.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said sharpening means comprises, a control lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the rotational plane of the flywheel, a holder pivotally connected to the control lever, and an abrasive element mounted in said holder for displacement into the orbital path of the blades.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sharpening means comprises, a control lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the rotational plane of the flywheel, a holder pivotally connected to the control lever, and an abrasive element mounted in said holder.

8. In combination with a log chute mounted in axial oflset relation to a flywheel, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted by the flywheel, means responsive to rotation of the flywheel for imparting rotation to the blades at an increased speed, and sharpening means selectively displaceable toward the flywheel in axial offset relation to the blades for engagement therewith.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said log chute has an outlet disposed in close spaced relation to the flywheel with which the blades carried by the flywheel are successively alined.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said rotation responsive means comprises, planet wheel members connected to said blades for rotation therewith, flexible belt means frictionally engageable with said planet wheel members, and anchoring means connected to said belt means for fixedly holding the belt means under tension to establish an orbital path for the planet wheel members and the blades connected thereto.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said sharpening means comprises, a control lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the rotational plane of the flywheel, a holder pivotally connected to the control lever, and an abrasive element mounted in said holder for displacement into the orbital path of the blades.

12. A wood chipping machine comprising, a flywheel, a drive shaft connected to the flywheel, a plurality of blade assemblies, means rotatably mounting said blade assemblies in the flywheel for projection therefrom at a small angle to the drive shaft, a log chute fixedly mounted adjacent to the flywheel for successive alinement with the blade assemblies carried by the. flywheel, sharpening means displaceably mounted in ofiset relation to the blade assemblies for engagement therewith, a journal assembly mounted on said drive shaft in axial spaced relation to the flywheel for rotation therewith, spindles connected to each of the blade assemblies and rotationally supported in the journal assembly, planet wheels connected to said spindles, a flexible belt drivingly engaged with said planet wheels, and means fixedly anchoring said belt in engagement with the planet wheels under tension.

13. The combination of claim 12 including adjustment means for axially positioning the journal assembly on the drive shaft to vary the projection of the blade assemblies from the flywheel.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the sharpening means comprises, a control lever piovtally mounted adjacent to the rotational plane of the flywheel, a holder pivotally connected to the control lever, and an abrasive element mounted in said holder.

15. The combination of claim 12 wherein the sharpening means comprises, a control lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the rotational plane of the flywheel, a holder pivotally connected to the control lever, and an abrasive element mounted in said holder.

16. In a wood chipping machine or the like having a drive member rotatably mounted about a fixed axis and a plurality of driven assemblies rotatably mounted by the drive member about axes disposed at an angle to the fixed axis drive means for rotating the driven assemblies in response to rotation of the drive member at an increased speed comprising, elongated spindles connected to said driven assemblies, planet wheels connected to said spindles, flexible track means drivingly engaged with said planet wheels, and anchor means holding said track means stationary and under tension.

No references cited.

WILLIAM W. DYER, 111., Primary Examiner.

W. D. BRAY, Assistant Examiner. 

12. A WOOD CHIPPING MACHINE COMPRISING, A FLYWHEEL, A DRIVE SHAFT CONNECTED TO THE FLYWHEEL, A PLURALITY OF BLADE ASSEMBLIES, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID BLADE ASSEMBLIES IN THE FLYWHEEL FOR PROJECTION THEREFROM AT A SMALL ANGLE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT, A LOG CHUTE FIXEDLY MOUNTED ADJACENT TO THE FLYWHEEL FOR SUCCESSIVE ALINEMENT WITH THE BLADE ASSEMBLIES CARRIED BY THE FLYWHEEL, SHARPENING MEANS DISPLACEABLY MOUNTED IN OFFSET RELATION TO THE BLADE ASSEMBLIES FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, A JOURNAL ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON SAID DRIVE SHAFT IN AXIAL SPACED RELATION TO THE FLYWHEEL FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A JOURNAL CONNECTED TO EACH OF THE BLADE ASSEMBLIES AND ROTATIONALLY SUPPORTED IN THE JOURNAL ASSEMBLY, PLANET WHEELS CONNECTED TO SAID SPINDLES, A FLEXIBLE BELT DRIVINGLY ENGAGED WITH SAID PLANET WHEELS, AND MEANS FIXEDLY ANCHORING SAID BELT IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PLANET WHEELS UNDER TENSION. 